Abandoned patient commits suicide in govt hospital

Siliguri: A cured patient allegedly committed suicide by setting himself on fire at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital here, police said.

Goutam Ghosh (28), allegedly abandoned by his family as nobody took him home after his recovery on February 17, set himself on fire in the bathroom of the Orthopathic Ward last night.

Ward boys and nurses on duty rescued Ghosh, who continued his stay in the hospital even after his cure, after hearing his scream, but he died of severe burn injuries, police said.

Ghosh, a resident of Malbazar in Jalpaiguri, was admitted to the hospital with elbow fracture on January 24, but nobody visited him during his ailment and even after his cure, Superintendent of the hospital Maitraee Kar said.

An inquiry committee would be formed to look into the incident, she said.